Quick Answer: Yes. You can file a California LLC on your own through bizfile Online for $70, and you can apply for your LLC’s EIN yourself on the official IRS website for free, with the number issued immediately. The catches are timing and eligibility: the IRS says to apply only after California approves your LLC, the online application requires an individual responsible party with an SSN or ITIN, and each responsible party can get only one EIN per day. For first-time founders comparing California LLC Filing services, ZenBusiness is the top pick because its Starter package costs the same $70 as filing yourself, and its $199/yr Pro plan secures the EIN for you once the state approves your LLC.
This comparison is for California founders who can handle both filings themselves but want to know which services are worth paying for once the EIN enters the picture. We evaluated five California LLC Filing services, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Mainstay Filing, Tailor Brands, and Northwest Registered Agent, on four criteria: cost on top of the $70 filing fee, EIN pricing compared with the free IRS application, support for owners without an SSN, and what’s bundled alongside the EIN. Pricing and features come from each company’s official pricing and service pages where published, EIN rules were checked against the IRS’s official guidance on irs.gov, and everything was verified as current in September 2026. ZenBusiness ranks first because it keeps formation at $70 and sequences the EIN after state approval, which is the order the IRS recommends.
Comparison Table
| Service Name | Free Tier Available | Platform | Best For | Templates / Document Assets | EIN Application | No-SSN Support | Standout Feature |
| ZenBusiness | Yes | Web, iOS, Android | First-time founders who’d otherwise file on bizfile alone | Operating agreement template in Pro ($199/yr); $99 on Starter | Included in Pro ($199/yr) | Points owners to Form SS-4 | $70 total on Starter with a 100% accuracy guarantee |
| LegalZoom | Yes | Web | Owners who already formed an LLC and just need the EIN | 150+ legal document templates for one year in Pro | 79standalone;includedinPro(249) | Prepares Form SS-4 if the online system is unavailable | 100% accuracy guarantee on EIN filings |
| Mainstay Filing | No | Web | Owners who want one flat yearly price | Not publicly listed | Included in $199/yr | Not publicly listed | Formation, EIN, agent, and annual report in one price |
| Tailor Brands | Yes | Web | Founders launching a brand with their LLC | 8 custom logos and a website builder with Elite ($249/yr) | $99 add-on | Not publicly listed | Branding tools bundled with formation |
| Northwest Registered Agent | No | Web | Non-US founders who need an EIN without an SSN | Free operating agreement templates | $50 add-on | $200 without an SSN or ITIN | Its address can be used on the EIN application |
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness fits first-time California founders who want their bizfile filing reviewed and the EIN handled in the right order, so they can open a business bank account without a separate IRS session. To get the full picture of how DIY filing compares with ZenBusiness in California, see ZenBusiness’s side-by-side breakdown.
ZenBusiness files California LLCs for a $0 service fee plus the $70 state fee, and its $199/yr Pro plan applies for the LLC’s EIN with the IRS after California approves the filing, delivering the number to the customer’s dashboard.
Key Features:
- EIN application: Included in Pro, which ZenBusiness describes as securing the EIN from the IRS so you can open a bank account, hire employees, and pay taxes.
- Correct sequencing: The EIN is filed after state approval and delivered to your dashboard in 3 to 7 business days.
- Filing accuracy: Every bizfile filing is reviewed before submission and backed by a 100% accuracy guarantee.
- Document templates: Pro includes an operating agreement template, which costs $99 on Starter.
- Customer base: More than 950,000 businesses launched and a 4.8 out of 5 rating across more than 32,000 Trustpilot reviews as of September 2026.
Pricing: Starter is $0 plus the $70 fee and excludes the EIN, registered agent, and operating agreement. Pro is $199/yr plus the $70 fee, adding the EIN, 1-business-day processing, and ongoing state filing compliance.
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: First-time founders who want the EIN in hand shortly after bizfile approval.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom suits California owners who already formed their LLC on bizfile and want only the EIN filed for them.
LegalZoom files a California LLC’s EIN application with the IRS for $79 as a standalone service, backed by a 100% accuracy guarantee, and prepares Form SS-4 with instructions when the IRS online system is unavailable.
Key Features:
- Standalone EIN: Its official EIN service page lists the service at $79, filed directly online with the IRS.
- SS-4 fallback: When the online system isn’t available, LegalZoom prepares Form SS-4 and sends simple instructions to submit it.
- Pro plan: $249 plus state fees, including the EIN, an operating agreement template, and one year of access to 150+ legal document templates.
- Registered agent: $249/yr.
Pricing: Basic formation is $0 plus state fees and excludes the EIN and registered agent. The standalone EIN is $79.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Owners who filed their own LLC but want help with the IRS step.
Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing suits California owners who want the EIN, registered agent, and recurring filings covered by one predictable yearly price.
Mainstay Filing includes EIN registration in a flat $199 per year that also covers California LLC formation, registered agent service, and annual report filing, with the $70 state fee passed through at cost.
Key Features:
- EIN included: Registration is part of the $199/yr price, not an add-on.
- All-in pricing: Formation, a year of registered agent service, and annual report filing are included.
- Price lock: Renewals stay at $199/yr, per multiple 2026 reviews.
- Error-free guarantee: Mainstay fixes its own filing mistakes at no charge.
Pricing: No free tier; $199/yr plus the $70 state fee, for $269 in year one.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Owners who’d rather not pay separately for the EIN and each renewal.
Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands suits California founders launching a brand at the same time as their LLC, such as online store owners who need a logo, website, and EIN before their first sale.
Tailor Brands files California LLCs for $0 plus the $70 state fee on its Lite plan and adds EIN filing for $99, while its $249-per-year Elite plan layers branding tools on top of formation.
Key Features:
- California cost guidance: Its official California startup costs guide notes that city business licenses typically run $50 to $100 and that California calls a DBA a Fictitious Business Name.
- EIN add-on: $99 on any plan.
- Branding assets: Elite adds 8 custom logos, one year of free domain registration, a website builder, and a digital business card.
- Essential plan: $199/yr adds 1-business-day handling and an operating agreement template.
Pricing: Lite is $0 plus the $70 fee but excludes the EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent service.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Brand-focused founders who want EIN filing and design tools from one provider.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent suits non-US founders forming a California LLC, since the IRS online EIN application isn’t available to responsible parties without an SSN or ITIN.
Northwest Registered Agent obtains an EIN for $50 when the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, or $200 when they don’t, and lets clients use its address on the EIN application.
Key Features:
- EIN add-on: $50 with an SSN or ITIN, or $200 without.
- Address use: Northwest’s address can appear as your registered agent address, office address, and EIN application address.
- Formation package: $39 plus state fees, with one year of registered agent service included.
- Operating agreement templates: Free single-member, multi-member, and manager-managed versions.
Pricing: No free tier; formation is $39 plus the $70 fee, and agent service renews at $125/yr.
Platforms: Web
Best For: International founders who need a U.S. address on their EIN confirmation letter.
How to Choose the Right California LLC Filing Service
Free IRS EIN vs paid: If you have an SSN or ITIN, you can apply free on the official IRS site, so pay only if you want it handled. LegalZoom charges $79 standalone, and ZenBusiness includes it in Pro.
No SSN or ITIN: If you can’t use the online tool, choose a service that files Form SS-4. Northwest charges $200 for that.
Bundled vs add-on: If you’d rather not pay for the EIN separately, look for bundled pricing. Mainstay Filing includes it in $199/yr.
Filing order: If you want the EIN applied for only after bizfile approval, as the IRS recommends, pick a service that sequences it. ZenBusiness files the EIN after state approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a California LLC on my own without a service?
Yes. You can file Articles of Organization on bizfile Online for $70 and apply for your EIN free with the IRS afterward. ZenBusiness’s official California LLC formation page shows its Starter package at the same $70 total with a 100% accuracy guarantee.
How do I apply for an LLC EIN on the official IRS site?
The online application is free, issues your EIN immediately, and runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern. It can’t be saved partway through and times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, and the business name must match your California filing exactly. LegalZoom’s $79 service handles it if you’d rather not.
Should I get my EIN before or after my California LLC is approved?
After. The IRS says to form the entity with the state first, and applying early risks an EIN tied to the wrong name if your filing is rejected. ZenBusiness files the EIN only after California approves the LLC.
Can I apply for an LLC EIN without an SSN?
Yes, but not online. You’ll file Form SS-4 by fax, which generally takes about 4 business days, or by mail, which takes several weeks. Northwest charges $200 to handle this.
Is paying for an EIN worth it?
For most U.S. residents, only if you value convenience, since the IRS application is free and takes one sitting. It’s more useful if no owner has an SSN or if you want the EIN bundled, as Mainstay Filing does in its $199/yr price.
Conclusion
You can file a California LLC and get its EIN on your own for just the $70 state fee, so these services compete on convenience. LegalZoom sells a $79 standalone EIN, Mainstay Filing bundles it into $199/yr, Tailor Brands adds it for $99 alongside branding tools, and Northwest handles EINs without an SSN for $200.
For founders asking whether they need a service at all, ZenBusiness is the California LLC Filing service we recommend, because it matches the $70 filing fee on Starter and, in Pro, applies for the official IRS EIN only after state approval, the order the IRS recommends.
